2022 marks a decade since Microsoft released the first ever Surface hardware, a Windows RT tablet with no keyboard accessory. That device did little to convince people to ditch their traditional laptop, but the Surface range has come on leaps and bounds since then.
The original Surface morphed into the Surface Pro, joined by an affordable alternative in the Surface Go. Both are compatible with an optional Type Cover, as is the ARM-based Surface Pro X, introduced in 2019.
That same year saw the debut of the Surface Duo, although it was almost 12 months before the device eventually went on sale.
Microsoft also makes traditional clamshell laptops, with the thin-and-light Surface Laptop and budget alternative in the Surface Laptop Go. This is also where we see the company expand into different form factors, with the Surface Book's detachable display ditched for 3-in-1 functionality from the Surface Laptop Studio.
1. Microsoft Surface Pro 7+
- Great performance
- Impressive battery life
- LTE connectivity
Cons
- Dated design
- Expensive
From $899.99 | Model reviewed $1,499.99
Despite being aimed at business and education customers, the Surface Pro 7+ is an excellent option for consumers.
The upgraded 11th-gen Intel processors help deliver great all-round performance, while the addition of a removable SSD and LTE connectivity will genuinely for a lot of people. Battery life has also had a big upgrade - it's now more than capable of lasting a full eight-hour workday.
However, it's not perfect. The five-year-old design is looking very dated, while you'll pay well over £1000 if you want to bundle any configuration with a Type Cover.
The Pro 7+ has been the best all-round Microsoft PC for most people for a while, but the Pro 8's new design means it could soon be replaced at the top of this chart.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ review
2. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
- Impressive display
- Solid performance
- Great battery life
Cons
- Outdated design
- Loud fans
- Quickly gets expensive
From $999.99 (13.5in) | From $1,299.99 (15in)
The Surface Laptop 4 is a cautious upgrade over its predecessor, but there are still a few reasons to buy it over the Surface Laptop 3.
The big one here is processor - you can now choose between Intel's latest and powerful AMD Ryzen chips across both 13.5in and 15in models. These chips deliver a significant improvement to power efficiency, and it shows - battery life is very solid, even when playing 4K videos.
Many of the reasons why the Laptop 3 was so good still apply. The displays offer a compelling viewing experience, continuing to support touch and pen input. There's also a solid keyboard and lightweight, premium design.
However, it's not perfect. This tried and tested design could do with a refresh, while noisy fans regularly kick in during everyday use. It can also get expensive, particularly if you need.
Despite these shortcomings, the Surface Laptop 4 still offers the best traditional laptop experience if you're set on Microsoft hardware.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 review
3. Microsoft Surface Go 3
- Solid Core i3 performance
- Premium build
- Great for video calling
Cons
- Poor battery life
- Dated design
- Can get expensive
From $399.99 | Model reviewed $629.99
The Surface Go 3 was one of Microsoft's more cautious 2021 updates, but it did get a useful performance boost. Despite being a 10th-gen chip, the new Intel Core i3 processor makes everyday use much smoother and more reliable.
Aside from that, this is essentially the Go 2 from 2020. The 10.5in LCD display is still a highlight, despite sticking at a 60Hz refresh rate. The fairly chunky bezels mean it's starting to look dated, while battery life is underwhelming.
However, it does retain that premium build quality, with an excellent built-in kickstand. The combination of 1080p webcam and dual mics also makes for a great video calling experience.
Combining the i3 model with a Type Cover and mouse makes the full Go 3 experience relatively expensive. Pentium Gold performance is still an unknown, but that's where you'll find better value for money.
Either way, it's still a capable yet ultra-portable Windows tablet, running a full version of Windows 11 out of the box.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Go 3 review
4. Microsoft Surface Book 3
- Gorgeous display
- Excellent keyboard
- Great port selection
Cons
- Hit-and-miss performance
- Expensive
From $1,599.99
Despite sporting only minimal upgrades over its predecessor, the Book 3 is a solid final iteration of this unique form factor - the Surface Laptop Studio has now replaced it in Microsoft's lineup.
A gorgeous display, excellent keyboard and solid port selection provide the foundation for a great laptop experience.
However, performance is seriously mixed. The Book 3 copes just fine in most situations but is a serious letdown when it comes to gaming performance. That wouldn’t usually be much of an issue, but Microsoft has specifically advertised its suitability for gaming.
That’s far from the only drawback, with chunky bezels, mediocre speakers and lack of fingerprint scanner among the most prominent.
At this price point, these shortcomings are hard to look beyond. However, if a fully detachable laptop screen appeals to you, this is the device to go for. It'll work with Windows 11 just fine, and remains relatively well future-proofed.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Book 3 review
5. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go
- Impressive display
- Solid keyboard
- Excellent audio
Cons
- Power comes at a price
- Poor battery life
From $549.99
Considering the success of the Surface Go line, it was perhaps inevitable that Microsoft would release a cheaper clamshell device at some point. The Surface Laptop Go is exactly that, although it doesn’t tick all the boxes.
The big factor is price, with the poor entry-level specs meaning you’ll need to pay significantly more for a model that’s worth buying. What's more, the top-spec model tested is closer to premium laptops than the budget market. Battery life is also a concern, with the device struggling to make it through a full working day on a single charge.
Nonetheless, there’s still plenty to like about the Surface Laptop Go. Performance on the top-spec model I tested is solid, while including a great keyboard and display in such a slimline body is really impressive. The Dolby Audio speakers and dual studio mics also make for a great audio experience.
There are plenty of laptop that also excel in these areas though, many of which are more affordable. There’s definitely a market for a device like the Surface Laptop Go, but the strength of the competition makes this one harder to recommend. You may prefer to wait for the Surface Laptop Go 2, which is expected in 2022.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Laptop Go review
6. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
- Solid performance
- Lightweight and versatile
- Impressive accessories
Cons
- Poor battery life
- Outdated specs
From £799 | Model reviewed £1,449
The Surface Pro 7 is a powerful tablet that doubles as a decent laptop if you pair it with a Type Cover (sold separately), although trying to actually use it in your lap is a challenge not many will succeed with.
The improved internals and upgraded graphics are where the Pro 7 really shines. It’s certainly more powerful than the Pro X, and it’s a massive jump forward from the Surface Pro 6 too. It’s still not a gaming laptop, although neither are the more expensive Surface Pro 7+ and Pro 8.
If you’re going to get the use out of the portability and flexible nature of the 2-in-1, the Pro 7 is worth considering, but there are more powerful laptops at a similar price if processing and graphical power is key.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro 7 review
7. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
- Premium design
- Impressive display
- Plenty of power
- Limited port selection
- Underwhelming battery life
- Now-dated specs
From $999 (13.5in) | From $1199 (15in)
The Surface Laptop 3 was compelling new PC at the time of its launch, and it still holds up well today.
As well as four distinct finishes, you can also choose between regular metal and soft Alcantara interiors on the 13.5in model.
A new 15in model made its debut here too, and it's the only once to offer custom AMD Ryzen 5 and 7 chips alongside Intel models. The 13.5in variant is limited to Core i5 or i7 processors, although its SSD can be configured up to 1TB (15in maxes out at 512GB).
USB-C also made its Surface Laptop debut here, but power users might struggle with that fact that there's only a single Type-C port and it tops out at USB 3.1, not Thunderbolt 3.
The recent release of the Surface Laptop 4 means you can get a great deal on the Laptop 3, although you may prefer to opt for Microsoft's latest device.
8. Microsoft Surface Go 2
- Excellent display
- Great range of accessories
- Lightweight and portable
Cons
- Average performance
- Frustrating as a tablet
- Can get expensive
From $399.99 | Model reviewed $549.99
The Surface Go 2 is one of the most fun devices Microsoft currently makes, but Windows 10 in this form factor creates a number of trade-offs.
It's by far the cheapest Surface PC for consumer, but performance is severely compromised at the entry-level. Stepping up to a Core M3 model, but you'll pay significantly more.
If that's a step too far, you'll probably be balancing battery life with performance. Microsoft's claimed 10 hours of typical usage is significantly reduced when handling complex tasks or multiple apps simultaneously.
Microsoft has increased the display size to 10.5in without increasing the total footprint of the device, but it'll take some getting used to if you're familiar with 13in or 15in devices.
Nonetheless, the Go 2 is incredibly thin and light for a Windows 10 PC, and it's also eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 11.
The unchanged accessories transform the device into a polished desktop experience, but at over £150/$150 for a Type Cover and mouse they represent a significant additional investment. Using the Go 2 as a standalone tablet still shows some of the limitations of Windows 10, and that's unlikely to change by updating to Windows 11.
However, with decent discounts often available in 2022, it could still be worth picking up.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Go 2 review
9. Microsoft Surface Book 2
- Excellent design
- Great performance
- Now more affordable
Cons
- Big and bulky
- No Thunderbolt support
- Expensive
From $1,199
From a hardware perspective, the Surface Book 2 is a stunning piece of work from Microsoft. It's a great example of a premium laptop with top-level design, with the fulcrum hinge a real highlight.
Performance and display are solid, while battery life holds up well. However, the asking price means that it's only justifiable for those who will really make use of its modes, features and performance. For the average person, something from the Surface Laptop range will suffice.
If you can find a great deal it might still be worth picking up, but bare in mind it was released back in 2017.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5in review
10. Microsoft Surface Pro X
- Modern design
- LTE connectivity
- Portable and versatile
Cons
- Sub-par performance
- Doesn't run all Windows apps
From $999, Slim Pen $144.99, Slim Pen + Signature Keyboard $269.99
Before you buy a Surface Pro X, you must understand its limitations. The Microsoft / Qualcomm-designed processor can run older 32-bit Windows apps by emulation, but this takes a toll on both performance and battery life.
Given that the selection of Windows apps designed for ARM processors is relatively small, you'll need to be sure the apps you use most are among them before committing.
If they are, you'll love the instant-on, always-connected experience you get with a Surface Pro X, even if you won't necessarily love the price once you factor in the keyboard and stylus. Also, watch out because there's no microSD slot or headphone jack like other Surface tablets.
If you like the idea of ARM-based Windows 2-in-1s, you may also be interested in the second-gen Surface Pro X or WiFi-only model from 2021.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro X review
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